Nicky Rackard Cup Round 2A

Tyrone v Monaghan, Saturday, 3.00, Killyclogher * Note change of venue

Monaghan’s senior hurlers begin their Nicky Rackard Cup campaign away to Tyrone on Saturday.

Both teams struggled in Division 3A of the Allianz National Hurling League, with Monaghan beating their neighbours in a relegation play-off last month, but Tyrone already have a win under their belts in this competition after they beat Louth. Tyrone had conceded five goals when losing to Louth – who finished just a point outside the top two – in the league, but they stepped up their game to dig out a two-point win last Saturday. With both teams going into this one on the back of positive results, it should be another closely-contested encounter.

In the wake of the relegation play-off, there should be an extra bit of bite to this match and Monaghan will need to be at the top of their game, particularly as the Red Hand County are once again on familiar ground at Páirc Colmcille. The free-taking duel between Monaghan’s Mickey McHugh and Tyrone’s Damien Casey is likely to go a long way towards deciding the outcome of this game. Monaghan manager Joey Morris will hope to be able to call on the likes of McHugh, Trevor Hilliard, Mark and Peter Treanor, Éanna Mac Suibhne and Brian McGuigan to play key roles, while Casey, Kiefer Morgan, Matthew Mulgrew and Damian Maguire are the main men for Tyrone.

There is a full round in the Drumlin Group of Credit Unions Senior Football League on Sunday. Leaders Scotstown will be aiming for a seventh straight win when they travel to Castleblayney. Buoyed by their win over Ballybay, Doohamlet face another local derby against Clontibret, while the Pearse Brothers travel to Magheracloone in the battle of last year’s league and championship winners. Meanwhile, Carrickmacross and Rockcorry, who are both yet to get their hands on points, go head-to-head. Latton v Monaghan Harps has been postponed due to an unplayable pitch and will now be played on Wednesday.

Truagh will hope to continue their impressive start to the Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League when they host bottom-of-the-table Aughnamullen on Sunday. Currin, who have also wasted no time in adjusting back to intermediate, are at home to Cremartin, while Donaghmoyne will attempt to bounce back from their crushing defeat against Truagh when they take on Clones. Inniskeen make the long trip to Tyholland, while Corduff entertain Drumhowan. There is also a rescheduled game between Cremartin and Clones on Wednesday.

Two of the three teams who share the lead in the Eurotech Junior Football League, Emyvale and Seán McDermotts, cross swords in a north-Monaghan derby on Sunday, . Blackhill have home advantage against Scotstown in Sunday’s other game, but the games between Aghabog and Killanny and Toome and Oram have been postponed. There is also one JFL fixture on Saturday evening between Killeevan and Éire Óg.

The final round of the Silver Hill Foods Development Hurling League takes place on Thursday. Monaghan Harps will guarantee top spot if they avoid defeat at home to Inniskeen, while Truagh can also secure a home semi-final by winning against Clontibret. The other game is between Carrickmacross and Castleblayney, who are both chasing their first points. The Silver Hill Foods Minor Hurling League continues on Sunday, with leaders Truagh Harps away to Cootehill and Carrickmacross at home to Castleblayney. Carrick’s minor hurlers are also in action on Tuesday, away to Clontibret.

The last round of the GRM Minor Football League Division One to be played before the break for the Leaving Cert (previously postponed from round one) takes place on Friday. Carrickmacross protect their 100% record when they play neighbours Magheracloone, who got off the mark on Tuesday, while there are also fairly local clashes between Monaghan Harps and Truagh and Scotstown and Emyvale.

Castleblayney host Rockcorry in the Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League Division 2B on Friday. Both sides are in action again on Wednesday, when Blayney travel to Oram and Rock go to Truagh. There are also Division Three games on Sunday when Aghabog, Éire Óg and Monaghan Harps host Emyvale, Clontibret and Currin respectively.

Another busy week in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg. juvenile competitions includes the finals of the Under-12 Football Spring Leagues in Cloghan on Saturday. This will be nothing short of a feast of football, with 34 teams from 25 clubs contesting no less than 17 matches between 11am and 4pm. Another two games take place in Cloghan on Friday evening.